Sump question

[Bulldog39]

I am starting to cycle my tank today and when finished I will start my refugium. Question is when I add my chaeto do I use sand and rock also? I was thinking about sand in with the chaeto and rock in with my filter sock.

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[mcgyvr]

Best to not so that the chaeto is free to tumble and not get caught on the rocks,etc..
Not to mention that just traps detritus,etc...

But if you want its not going to really cause any real issues.. The differences are pretty minimal..

 

[Bulldog39]

Best to not so that the chaeto is free to tumble and not get caught on the rocks,etc..
Not to mention that just traps detritus,etc...

But if you want its not going to really cause any real issues.. The differences are pretty minimal..

Is it a good idea to use a sand bed in with the chaeto and rock ruble in with the sock and skimmer?

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[rockhead51]

Depends how much sand and rock you have in the display. Sand and rock are just the home for bacteria. The amount of bacteria will balance out in your system. As long as you have enough places for it to live already, more probably doesn't matter.
I would worry about rock in with chaeto (as posted above) and too much extra sand being a place detrius and bad bacteria could develop.
IMO, if you think you need more area to host good bacteria, you'd be better served with media bags of matrix. But I am kind of anal about things being organized...

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[Bulldog39]

Depends how much sand and rock you have in the display. Sand and rock are just the home for bacteria. The amount of bacteria will balance out in your system. As long as you have enough places for it to live already, more probably doesn't matter.
I would worry about rock in with chaeto (as posted above) and too much extra sand being a place detrius and bad bacteria could develop.
IMO, if you think you need more area to host good bacteria, you'd be better served with media bags of matrix. But I am kind of anal about things being organized...

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Something like this?

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[rockhead51]

Something like this?

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Yep. Or

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[rockhead51]

And if you go with media bags, be careful that you get those with drawstrings or "ziplock" type closures. I read recently about a guy who had some with metal zippers and they had been corroding and leaching metals into his water (I guess they were made for freshwater).

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[rockhead51]

Last thoughts:
- Everybody has an opinion.
- Nothing good in this hobby happens fast.
- You could write books about what I DON'T know about aquariums.
- There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Talk to as many people as you can!

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[Sanren]

Last thoughts:
- Everybody has an opinion.
- Nothing good in this hobby happens fast.
- You could write books about what I DON'T know about aquariums.
- There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Talk to as many people as you can!

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I dont have rock in my fuge, but have always run a deep sand bed. Shallow sand in the display for looks and snail home, about half to 3/4 inch and deep in the fuge, about 4 inches. Takes 2 to 3 months of running but really helps me control nitrates.
As everything in this hobby goes, that is my preference and my experience. There can be entire threads on how wrong i am and how right i am. Works well for me, tank has been going about 4 years since the last rebuild and fuge with dsb has been up about 2 years.
Display is a 160 gal (undrilled....yuck) 90 gal sump running about 70 gals, and the fuge is a 30 gal.

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